Rotary engine.



PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

E. 0. DUNCAN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIGA TIOH I'ILIIID AUG. 16, 1905.

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E. G. DUNCAN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATIOE 1-11.21) AUG. 16, 1905.

lllllllillll \N a N Na\ Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l mented May 1, 1906.

Application filed August 16, 1905- Serial 110.2%,453-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Jamaica Plain, in the county of Suffolk and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in RotaryEngines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in rotary engines designed,primarily, for the economic use of steam and for securing the maximumeffect from the expansive force thereof.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of movablegates to be carried by the piston, said gates being arranged inconnected pairs and automatically operated in reverse direction in thetravel of the piston, whereby a simple and convenient means forreversing the engine is provided.

Another object is the provision of duplicate wings carried by thecylinder and adapted for simultaneous operation in the reversedirection, said wings being arranged to operate the piston-gates toinsure a steam-tight connection between the ends of said gates and thecylinderwall.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain specificdetails of structure which will be clearly described in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in twosheets, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an engineconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transversesection of the same. Fig. 3 is abroken elevation, partly in section,illustrating the means for operating the wings. Fig. 4 is a brokenvertical section through the piston. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of aportion of the piston.

Referring to the drawings, my improved engine comprises a base 1, uponwhich is mounted a cylinder 2. The heads 3 are se cured in place bytie-bolts 4, connecting ears 5, projecting from the respective heads.The heads are circumferentially recessed on the surfaces next thecylinder to receive disks 6 of a diameter to fit snugly within and closethe cylinder ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The heads are furtherrecessed within the plane of the disk-recess, as at 7, to receiveball-cups 8, within which are mounted balls 9 to provide a ball-bearingfor the main shaft.

The piston 10, of less diameter than the interior diameter of thecylinder, is supported upon the main shaft 11, which extends laterallyof the cylinder in both directions, passing through openings in theclosing-disks 6 and being provided immediately beyond said closing-diskswith bearing-cones 12, keyed upon the shaft and designed to rest uponand be supported upon the balls 9 within the cups 8. In alinement withthe outer surface of the cones the main shaft is reduced and projectsthrough an opening 13, formed in the heads, each of the heads beingformed with integral bearing-sleeves 14, concentric with the opening 13.The sleeves are circumferentially enlarged beyond the openings 13 toprovide a packing-space in which is mounted the usual ring-packing 15, agland-ring 16 bearing on the outer ring of the packing and being held inplace by a nut 17, arranged for threaded engagement with the end of thesleeve. The main shaft projects through the nut 17, being providedtherebeyond with belt-wheels 18, it being understood that the packing 15may be adjusted as desired to operation of the nut 17.

The piston, which is preferably keyed upon the main shaft, is of lessdiameter than the interior diameter of the cylinder, thereby providing asteam-space between it and the cylinder. The piston is formed with aseries of transversely-arranged recesses 19, preferably rectangular andslightly less in depth than the width of the piston to leave a rear wall20 of the desirable thickness necessary to revolubly support the gateoperating platforms, to be later described. The piston is also formedwith a series of radially-formed slots 21, extending wholly through thetransverse width of the piston and terminating coincidently with theperiphery thereof and with the inner side wall of the recesses 19, asclearly shown in Fig. 4. The slots 21 are comparatively narrow incross-section and serve as guideways for the operation of the gates.

22 represents what I term the operatingplatforms, comprising blocks ofsuitable material which are plain on their operatingfaces, the oppositefaces being approximately triangular to provide for the necessarymovement of the platforms. The platforms are movably supported withinthe recesses 19 through the medium of journals 23, projecting laterallyfrom the side edges of the platforms and rearwardly supported insuitable bearings, one of the bearings comprising an The gates 28comprise rectangular bodysections of suitable material arranged to fitsnugly in the slots 21, the inner end of each of the gates beingbifurcated to provide extensions 29, designed to embrace the ends of theplatforms 22. As each recess 19 is in communication with two of theslots 21 and each of said slots is adapted to receive a gate, it will benoted that the single platform 1n each of the recesses 19 has operativeconnection with a pair of gates, it being understood that the slots 21are so arranged with relation to the recess 19 and the platform 22 thatthe gates 28 contact with the platforms near the respective ends of thelatter. The platforms owing to their pivotal mounting are thus convertedinto levers centrally fulcrumed and supporting a gate at each end.

The valve-chest 30 is mounted for communication with the cylinder, beingsupplied with a motive fluid, as steam, through a connection 31. The.steam-chest, which is preferably cylindrical in section, is cored fromone end to receive a cylindrical valve 32, having a transverse andtriangular port 33 extending therethrough. The open end of the corewithin the valve-chest is closed by a plug 34, in which is revolublysupported the valve-stem 35, having direct connection with the valve 32.An operating-lever 36, having the usual ratchet and segment lock 37, isconnected to the outer end of the valve-stem and arranged to operate andhold the valve in adjusted position.

A fixed abutment 38 depends within the casing, being preferably formedintegral therewith. The free end of the abutment is designed to providea practically steam-tight connection with the surface of the piston, asclearly shown in Fi 1. The abutment is formed with a plurality ofinlet-ports 39 and 40, each comprising three distinct ports arranged inalinement longitudinally of the abutment and communicating at theirupper ends with the interior of the valve-chest and at their lower endswith the steam-space between the cylinder and piston. The ports 39 areformed in the abutment to one side of the longitudinal center thereofand constitute the inlet-ports in the direct operation of the engine,while the ports 40 are formed on the opposite side of the longitudinalcenter and constitute the inlet-ports in the reverse operation of theengine. By this arrangement the upper ends of each respective set ofinletports are spaced apart, and the lower opening of the port 33 in'valve 32 is of a size to communicate with but one set of ports at atime,

it being understood that the upper or inlet end of the port 33 is ofsuch size and so positioned as to be in open communication with thesteam-inlet 31 at all times.

Immediately adjacent the abutment 38 the cylinder 2 is recessed, as at41 and 42, to provide housings for the gate-operating wings. Therecesses 41 and 42 are located on opposite sides, respectively, of theabutment and are coextensive in width with the width of the piston thatis, they extend entirely across the cylinder between the closing-disks6. In these recesses are mounted wings 43 and 44, respectively, eachcomprising plate-like sections of solid formation and having a curvatureequal to the curvature of the cylinder. The wings are equal in thicknessand width to the corresponding dimensions of the recesses, so that theypractically fill the recesses when in normal position, the face of thewings thereby providing a surface exactly coincident in plane and incurvature with the interior surface of the cylinder to avoid projection.

The lever 36 is provided at its fulcrum end with a transversely-arrangedarm 45, extending in both directions beyond the plane of the lever andhaving its free ends terminally bent to provide offset portions 46, theextent of the bending at this point being sufiicient to arrange the freeends of the portions 46 in a plane above the wings 43 and 44. Rods 47engage slotted openings 48 in the portions 46 of the arm and dependthrough the wall of the cylinder and are pivotally connected at 49 tothe respective wings 43 and 44. By this construction operation of thelever 36 will elevate one of the Wings described, seati ng the samesnuglywithin its housing-recess, at the same time depressing the otherWing until its free end, which is adjacent the abutment, contacts withthe surface of the piston.

Thewi'ngs 43 and 44 are pivotally mounted Within the recesses 41 and 42,respectively, said pivotal connection being at the'end of the wingremote from the abutment. The wings are of such length that whendepressed, as hereinbefore described, their free ends will contact withthe abutment at the mouth of the ports 39 or 40, closing said ports, asclearly shown in Fig. 1.

The platforms 23 and the relative arrangement of the slots 21 withrelation tosaid platforms is such that the distance between the gates 28when in place is considerably greater than the width of the abutment.

To insure positive movement of the platforms and to guard against lostmotion, I provide each platform with a leaf-spring 50, secured centrallyto the platform with springterminals adapted to contact with theproximate side wall of the recess 19.

An exhaust-port 51 is formed in the base 1 of the engine, being incommunication with the interior of the cylinder through a series ofopenings 52, formed in the cylinder-wall.

In operation, assuming the parts constructed and arranged as describedand the valve-port 33 positioned to direct the steam through theinlet-ports 39, the operation is as follows: It is to be understood thatthe rela tive movement of the valve 32 and the wings is such that whenthe lever has been moved to establish communication between thesteam-inlet 31 and one set of ports 39 or 40 the wing cooperating withthe opposite set of ports is lowered into contact with the piston. Thesteam passing through the port 39 will be admitted to the steam-spacebetween the cylinder and piston, its expansive force op erating betweenthe abutment and the gate 38, immediately forward of said abutment. Thisgate, as will be noted in Fig. 1, has been projected to contact its freeends with the wall of the cylinder, providing a fixed partition carriedby the piston and extending transversely of the steam-space in thecylinder, so that the expansive force of the steam compels a revolutionof the piston. As each successive gate or pair of gates moves toward thefixed abutment, the gate elevated, which of course is that gate of thepair in advance in the direction of movement of the piston, will contactwith the lowered wing, the surface of which operates to force sai dprojected gate within the body ofthe piston and project the second gateof the pair by rocking the platform on its pivotal support in an obviousmanner. As the distance between the gates of each respective pair isgreater than the length of the wings, the gate depressed in travelingbeneath the lowered wings will move beneath and beyond the abutmentbefore the second gate of the pair, which of course is projected, ridesbeneath the wing. As this second gate, however, rides'beneath the wingit is depressed in its turn, projecting the first gate of the pairoutward into contact with the cylinder; but as this first gate haspassed the abutment it provides the partition necessary to utilize theexpansive force of the steam admitted throughtheinlet-ports 39. Inreversing the engine the port 33 is positioned to admit steam throughthe ports 40, this operation of the lever 36 returning the wing 43 toclosed position and forcing the wing 44 to open position. The steam nowacts against the other gate of the pair in the reverse movement of thepiston, as will be evident. As the projected gates pass theexhaust-openings the steam behind them finds its way through theexhaust-port.

It will be noted that the operative gate 28 is projected into operativeposition immediately beyond the abutment in the direction of movement ofthe piston, whereby the full expansive force of the steam is utilizedagainst said gate.

The various parts of the engine are of course to be packed in anydesired manner, as such details form no material part of the presentinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A rotary engineincluding a piston provided with a plurality of gates arranged in pairs,the gates of each pair moving in reverse direction in operation, andmanuallycontrolled means carried by the engine for operating said gates.

2. A rotary engine including a piston pro vided with a plurality ofgates arranged in pairs, and means carried by the piston for supportingeach pair of gates to cause reverse operation of the respective gates,and manually-controlledv means carried by the engine for operating saidgates.

3. A rotary engine including a piston provided with a plurality of gatesarranged in pairs, and a platform pivotally supported within the pistonand connected with the gate, and manually-controlled means carried bythe engine for operating said gates.

4. A rotary engine including a piston provided with a plurality of gatesarranged in pairs, and a platform pivotally supported within the pistonand connected with the gates, said gates being arranged on oppositesides of the platform-pivot, and manually controlled means carriedby theengine for operating said gates.

5. A rotary engine including a piston provided with a plurality ofrecesses, platforms pivotally supported within the recesses, and gatessupported by the platforms and movable radially through the piston, andmanually-controlled means carried by the engine for operating saidgates.

6. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, a piston arranged therein,gates carried by the piston and arranged and operated in pairs, andmanually-operable means supported by the cylinder to successivelyoperate each gate of the pair.

7. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, a piston arranged therein,gates carried by the piston and arranged in pairs, and manually-operablemeans carried by the cylinder to operate said gates, the movement of onegate in one direction causing a reverse movement of the other gate ofthe pair.

8. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, a piston arranged therein,gates arranged in pairs, said gates being movably supported by thepiston, and manually-operable wings supported by the cylinder andadapted to operate both gates of a pair in the revolution of the piston,said gates moving in reverse direction in operation.

9. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder,

ITO

arranged in pairs and movably supported by the piston, Wings pivotallysupported by the cylinder, an abutment carried by the cylinder andcontacting with the piston, said wings being arranged on opposite sidesof the abutment and adapted to operate the gates in the revolution ofthe piston, and means for operating said wings in reverse directions.

11. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, a concentric piston arrangedtherein, an abutment projecting from the cylinder and contacting withthe piston, said abutment being formed with a plurality of ports, gatescarried by the piston, Wings pivotally connected to the cylinder onopposite sides of the abutment, an inlet-valve arranged forcommunication with the ports in the abutment, and means for adjustingsaid valve and simultaneously operating the wings.

12. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, a concentric piston arrangedtherein, an abutment projecting from the cylinder and contacting withthe piston, said abutment being formed with a plurality of ports, gatescarried by the piston, wings pivotally connected to the cylinder onopposite sides of the abutment, an inlet-valve arranged forcommunication with the ports in the abutment, and means for adjustingsaid Valve and simultaneously operating the wings in reverse directions.

13. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, a concentric piston arrangedtherein, an abutment projecting from the cylinder and contacting withthe piston, said abutment being formed with a plurality of ports, gatescarried by the piston, wings pivotally connected to the cylinder onopposite sides of the abutment, an inlet-valve arranged forcommunication with the ports in the abutment, a lever connected to thevalve, and an arm connected to the lever and projecting in oppositedirections therefrom, the terminals of said arm being respectivelyconnected to the wings.

14:. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder open atthe ends, headsconnected to, each other and closing the ends of the cylinder, disksabutting against the ends of thecylinder and fitting within recessesformed in the heads, ball-containing cups seated in recesses in theheads beyond the disks, a shaft revolubly supported by the heads, andbearingcones keyed on said shaft and bearing on the balls in the cups.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD C. DUNCAN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES P. STOKINGEN, JOSEPHINE HOURIN.

